Timeline: Security and Traffic Closings on the Pope Weekend

 

10 p.m. Thursday, September 24th:  The Secure Perimeter around Ben Franklin Parkway and Secure Vehicle Perimeter will go into effect. Vehicles must be removed from certain roads within the Secure Vehicle Perimeter. This covers the area around City Hall, the Art Museum, Washington Square and Independence Hall.

map

The map shows different levels of security within Center City for the time of the pope’s visit.

6 a.m. Friday, September 25th: The Secure Perimeter from 12th Street west until 20th Street will be open to screened pedestrians only, no vehicles allowed in the Secure Vehicle Perimeter. Pedestrians will be able to walk freely within the Secure Perimeter as long as they have been screened or ticketed. An actual fence will be erected around the zone.

8 a.m. Friday, September 25th: The Authorized Vehicle Access Roads will go into effect. Vehicles will not be allowed on these roads, as they are reserved for authorized vehicles only.

6 p.m. Friday, September 25th: The Traffic Box in Center City will go into effect. Cars located within the Traffic Box may move around freely, but they cannot leave and come back. Driving around within the Traffic Box will likely be impeded by the foot traffic of thousands of pedestrians.

10 p.m. Friday, September 25th:  The Secure Perimeter around Independence Hall and Secure Vehicle Perimeter  will go into effect. The Traffic Box in University City will also go into effect. Checkpoints will be put into effect.

2 a.m. Saturday, September 26th: Taxis will no longer be allowed in and out of the Traffic Box. City officials are planning exceptions that will allow them to move in and out of the perimeter before this point.

Sometime late Sunday, September 27th or Monday, September 28th: Roads will reopen and the perimeter will come down.